Kiwanis Park: From Overgrown Bramble Patch to Pretty, Natural Beach

Editor's Note: Members of the Kirkland Park Board have launched an effort to publicize each of the city's parks in an effort to encourage residents to volunteer in their protection and upkeep. The first installment in this series was Barbara Ramey's reflections on Edith Moulton Park. See also Ted Marx's story on O.O. Denny Park.

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By CAROL LEE POWER

has come a long journey from being a narrow, hardly accessible, blackberry and ivy covered beach, well hidden from the street, a gathering place for late-night partiers, to what it has become. Today it is still not well known, but it is an attractive, appealing and accessible waterfront park used by neighbors and visitors young and old.

The journey has not been an easy one.   

It started around 1970 when a group of neighbors calling themselves Friends of Kiwanis petitioned the City Council to save this almost three-acre natural shoreline area from developers. The council listened. Since that time, the park has gone through several stages of neglect and care until 2007 when the city identified this park as one that should paricpate in the Green Kirkland Partnership. The goal of this partnership is to “remove invasive species and sustain urban natural areas”.                   

In 2007, another Friends of Kiwanis group was organized to begin this work of removal and restoration. Work parties are now scheduled from March through October each year. Volunteer participants include members of the local Kiwanis Sunrisers and Noon groups, neighbors, youth groups, faith-based groups, and students filling community service hours. In addition, staff volunteer monthly and the nonprofit EarthCorps recruits and manages volunteers for a large, annual restoration event.

Rain or shine, wet or dry, volunteers work at removing the pervasive ivy and blackberry, as well as several other non-native invasive plants. Tools are supplied by the city. 

Records for 2010 show that over 200 volunteers contributed 650 hours of work at this park. The Kirkland Sunrisers group provides consistent support and contributed a park signboard and $1000 for native plants and trees.

A walk through the park reveals the results of all this work. Some of the taller trees that were once smothered with ivy have now been given a second chance for survival. Much of the pervasive Himalayan blackberry has been removed. Now, new groundcover, shrubs, and evergreen trees -- all native to the Northwest -- can be seen throughout the different levels of Kiwanis Park. A wide, graveled path leads down to the shoreline. The upper area has two small tables and benches for picnicking or just a place to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Parking is available along the upper edge. 

All of this comes at a cost: What has been achieved over that past four years has to be maintained, because the invasive plants don’t give up easily. If this park is to be used in the manner that was originally intended by neighbors and other city residents as a place to enjoy the native beauty of the Northwest, it needs constant care. This care can be provided by joining the regularly scheduled work parties. Monetary donations are welcome, and will always be put to good use. Event dates and donation information can be seen on the Green Kirkland Partnership website: supportgreenkirkland.org.

This small, waterfront park, at 1405 10th St West, is one of the many parks that make Kirkland one of the most attractive places to live on the Eastside. Come see for yourself and then sign up to be a volunteer and/or donate toward restoration costs.

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Carol Lee Power is the Kiwanis Park Steward and can be reached at carolleepower@yahoo.com.